Joseph a



No. 6|9,225. Patented Feb. 7, |899. J. A. REECE.

BICYCLE SKATE.

(Application iled Jan. 20, 189B.)

(No Model.)

y MMIII A.. V.HELM fllfllllllliy-I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH A. REECE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BICYCLE-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,225, dated February7, 1899.

Application iiled January 20, 1898. Serial No. 667,317. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. REEOE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the' District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Skates; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bicycle-skates.

It has for its object, among other things, to greatly simplify theconstruction and lessen the number of parts; also, to reduce frictionand wear, to readily renew the Wheel or cycle axle bearings, to provideagainst accident in event of the breaking of the axles, to effect theready removal of the wheels or cycles with their ad junctive parts fortheir renewal or other purpose, and to effectively secure the same inplace; and to these ends the invention consists of the sundrycombinations of parts, including their construction and arrangement,substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specificallypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form ofcarrying out my invention, Figure l is a side View of my improvedbicycle-skate. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken through one of thewheel-brackets. Fig. 3 is a bottom View of one of said brackets. Fig. 4cis a side View of a portion of one of the wheels. Fig. 5 is a plan andan edge view of an axle-retaining ring or device. Fig. 6 is a brokendetailed view of the lower inner side guard on each Wheel-bracket. Fig.7 is adetached perspective of one of the wheel-axles. Fig. S is adetached broken view of the lubricating axle-sleeve. Fig. 9 is a sideand a sectional view of an axle washer or bearing.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed withoutdeparting from the spirit or principles of my invention and the same yetremain intact.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a suitable foot-piece orstock A, having its upper surface or contour shaped to correspond to thebottom of the foot or shoe of the skater, and this foot-piece or stockis reinforced by a thin metal or steel wearing-plate A, secured orscrewed thereon and conformed thereto, the screws or fastenings a atherefore passing or inserted therethrough from beneath. A

B B are two light castings or brackets pendent from the lower side ofthe stock or footpiece A, near or at the toe and heel ends thereof,respectively, the same screws or fastenings c securing the wearing-plateA to said footpiece or stock, fastening said brackets to the latter.sist, preferably, each of a disk-like plate or topv portion b, having ashort upwardly-extending stout stud 19X, entering a corresponding recessor cavity in the under side of the stock A to aid in securing saidbracket top plate in position upon the latter, said plate also having anelongation or extension b' to ward the middle of the stock A, having astrengthening web or rib b2 extending from its extremity and stopping ata point near a line which, if drawn, would intersect the maximum Widthof said elongation or extension. It (each bracket) also comprises twoopposite parallel pendants or arms b3, having also between them anarched strengthening rib or web b5, cast integrally with said pendantsor arms and the top plate or disk b thereof. The pendants or arms b3 areprovided or cast upon their inner opposite sides, near the lower ends,with substantially inverted-U- The brackets or castings B B con- 4shaped lateral flanges or guards b5, flanking v the axle-openings b4 insaid arms or pendants, their lower ends having opposite orV aliniiigopenings bs therethrough for the reception of bolts b9, each spanningthe intermediary space between the ends of the arms of each flange orguard to temporarily compass the axle, thus preventing the displacementor dropping of the wheel or cycle axle in case of the breaking of` saidaxle, and thus provide against accident or the falling of the skater insuch event, as is apparent.

C C are the wheels or cycles, one hung or journaled in each bracket andeach consisting of a central or disk portion c, formed eentrally orconcentrically with a hub c', extending laterally each way, and with acircumferentially broadened or flared portion c2 and preferably of ahard or solid rubber tire c3, a

flanked on one side with a circumferential lateral flange c4, integralwith said broad portion c2, and on the opposite by a removable ring orannulus c5, connected with said ange c4 by bolts c, passing therethroughand through said tire.

D is the cycle or wheel axle, substantially J-shaped to provide for theready assembling and disassembling thereof with adjunctive parts and toreduce to the minimum the use of nuts and screwthreads passed through ithe alining openings b4 in the bracket-arms or pendants b3, with one endvprovided with an annular groove d outside of one of said arms orpendants, and into this groove isi sprung a vsplit ring e, while theopposite end @f Said axle, suitably screw-threaded, passes thnough anopening f in the opposite bracketaiinl parallel with and above theaxle-bearing opening therein and there held by a nut f', fitted thereonupon the inside of-said bracket-arm. It will b e seen lthat the splitiring e will serve to jam the nut f tightly against the oppositebracket-arm and thus prea'ent its accidental displacement or jarring1o0se and effectively lock or secure the axle in place. This arrangementprovides for ,the ready removal .of the axle when it is required torenew the wheel or eyele or for other purpose and its ready replacement.

E is a sleeve adapted to be slipped on the axle D, inside the hub ofeach wheel ,0, and adapted to be held to said hub by a feather or keyf2, fitted into coincident grooves or .slots f8 f4, fori-nedl in saidhub and sleeve, re-v .SPot-ivly.- Said sleeve has an annular chamber orrecess g to contain oil or .other lubrinant for lubricating vthe axle,said hub and l sleeve having .communicating openings or passages .g' g2,respectively, through which the lubricant lis supplied to said chamber,the hub-passage g' being covered or closedby a pi-voted .cover g3 toexclude dust and other ,foreign substances `and prevent the escape ofthe lubricant while the skate is in use.

,F F are washers or bearings Vofhardened metal or steel, adapted topermit the passagevi therethrough of and form extended bearings for thewheel-axles D and to [it against the ends of the wheel-hubs and havinglateral lflanges h to fit upon the hubs. Each washer or boar-ing alsohas an aperture h through it to permit of the insertion of a screw h2,entering or engaging ,a suitable aperture in the inner side of thebracket-arms, thus providing for the ready removal of said washers orhearings when worn out or unsuitable for further use vand replaced byothers. Thus Athe bracket-arms are keptintact, being relieved of anyappreciable amount of wear `Where the wheel-axles pass through them,otherwise, as heretofore made, forming the only bearings for said axles,rendering them more durable or lasting, as is obvious.

, It will also be apparent that one of the y brackets, with its wheel,would equally serve in the capacity of a furniture-caster, the samebeing readily applicable in such relations.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters 1. In a bicycle-skate, the bracket with its wheel, andthe axle, bearing said wheel, having one end passing through one arm ofsaid bracket and its opposite portion passed through the `oppositebracket-arm, at two differentr points., with its ends suitably heldtherein, substantially as specified.

v2. In a bicycle-skate, the bracket, with its wheel, and thesubstantiallyJ -shaped wheelaxle, with one en-.d secured in one arm ofsaid bracket by a compassing split ring and its opposite end held inplace by a nut, substantially as set fort-h.

3. In a bicycle-skate, the bracket, and wheel, with its axle, saidbracket havingarms provided upon the inside, around the openings thereinreceiving said axle, with integral arched guards, to prevent thedisplacement .of the axle and wheels, in event .of the breaking of theaxle, -substantially as specified.

4Q Inabicycle-skate, the bracket and wheel, with its axle, said brackethaving arms provided upon the inside, around the openings thereinreceiving said axle, with integral substantially U-shaped flanges orguards, said lian ges or guards 'havingbolts passing through the lowerends thereof, substantially as specied. l

5. In a bicycle-skate, the-wheel, with its axle, the annular chamberedsleeve adapted to permit the passage therethrough .of said axle andarranged within said hub, the bracket having arms also through whichpasses said axle, and the annular fianged bearing-washers attached tosaid arms and adapted to form bearings for said axle and having theirannular flanges compassing the ends of said sleeve and abutting the endsof said hubs, substantially as set forth.

6. In a bicycle-skate, the bracket `comprising the substantially disktop plate, with a ribbed elongation toward the middle of the in presenceof two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. REECE.

Witnesses: Y

EDWIN D. J oNEs, yN. J. JONES.

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